Grimstad Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Picturesque aerial view of town with buildings in sunset
Picturesque aerial view of town with buildings in sunset
Picturesque aerial view of town with buildings in sunset
Grimstad city seen from a distance, Norway, Europe. Panorama
Street with white wooden residential buildings in Grimstad in Southern Norway

Enjoy idyllic Southern Norway at its best with quiet days in the sun either on the beach, at sea, on one of the isles in the archipelago.

In Grimstad, you can wander around narrow streets and alleyways, enjoy fantastic food at many restaurants and eateries, such as Smag & Behag, go on a pleasant boat trip or follow in the footsteps of writers Knut Hamsun and Henrik Ibsen. If you are travelling with children, there are also plenty of excursions and interesting activities on offer.

Grimstad is a coastal municipality in Aust-Agder and dates back to the Viking Age when it was a market town at the heart of the Vikkilen area. In the Middle Ages, the area was a great fishing town with strong international trading networks.

A visit to Grimstad lets you explore the archipelago and its many isles. Visit the Homborsund Lighthouse, paddle through the Reddal Channel or go camping on Ytre Maløya. You can hire a bicycle and explore the town or take a trip to Dømmesmoen, a beautiful park just outside the town centre. The Oddensenteret shopping centre, situated on the quay, is a haven for a spot of retail therapy.

Literature enthusiasts should visit the Ibsen Museum. It is a short trip to the other towns in Southern Norway, such as the charming town of Arendal or Kristiansand. You can hire a boat in Grimstad and explore more of the breathtaking coastlines around Grimstad.

The closest airport is Kristiansand, approximately 30 minutes’ drive away from Grimstad. Grimstad has no train station but there is a regular bus service. If you’re thinking about visiting Grimstad in the summer, make sure to book in advance, as hotels can get booked up very quickly.

In Grimstad, you can relax and enjoy the beautiful summer days. You can completely unwind at one of the many beaches or explore the archipelago and the surrounding area. The town is well known for its narrow streets and wooden houses, and large parts of the town centre now feature on Norway’s preservation list for towns of national interest.

The Annual Holiday Sale

Members save up to 40% on hotels and holiday homes. Plan this year’s big trip and save.
Home Hotel Grimstad

Home Hotel Grimstad

3 out of 5
Kirkegaten 3 Grimstad
The price is £128 per night from 5 Mar to 6 Mar
£128
5 Mar - 6 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Grimstad. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and a rooftop terrace. Popular attractions Ibsenhuset og Grimstad Bymuseum ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (952 reviews)
The location is excellent! (parking was a five minute walk away). The breakfast and dinner were great, and much appreciated, as food was quite expensive in this town. The staff were friendly and helpful. (it was unusually hot weather when we were there, and they gave us a fan for the room)

Reviewed on 28 Aug 2025

Home Hotel Grimstad
Strand Hotel Fevik - by Classic Norway Hotels

Strand Hotel Fevik - by Classic Norway Hotels

4.5 out of 5
Nedre Hausland 80 Grimstad
The price is £113 per night from 1 Mar to 2 Mar
£113
1 Mar - 2 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury hotel in Grimstad. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a beach locale. Popular attractions Hauslandsanden and Lille Moviga are located ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,000 reviews)
Our curtains are falling off. Marks in the walls. Food order incorrect so as to be inedible. But no charge. But hungry. Large stretchers carrying linens in my hallway. Unsightly. Good tv. Better than we’ve had so far in Norway. Staff on the whole are quite good and versed well in English. Not a good ...

Reviewed on 30 Jul 2025

Strand Hotel Fevik - by Classic Norway Hotels
5 Person Holiday Home in Grimstad-by Traum

5 Person Holiday Home in Grimstad-by Traum

2 out of 5
Grimstad Agder
Stay at this holiday home in Grimstad. Enjoy free parking. Popular attraction Lundesanden is located nearby.
5 Person Holiday Home in Grimstad-by Traum
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Topcamp Bie - Grimstad

Topcamp Bie - Grimstad

1.5 out of 5
85 Arendalsveien Grimstad
Stay at this cottage in Grimstad. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and an outdoor pool. Popular attractions The Ibsen House and Ibsenhuset og Grimstad Bymuseum ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (92 reviews)
Litt enkel hytte, men veldig bra servicebygg

Reviewed on 28 Sept 2025

Topcamp Bie - Grimstad
5 Person Holiday Home in Grimstad-by Traum

5 Person Holiday Home in Grimstad-by Traum

2 out of 5
Grimstad Agder
Stay at this holiday home in Grimstad. Enjoy free parking. Popular attraction Lundesanden is located nearby.
5 Person Holiday Home in Grimstad-by Traum
Hotell Arendal

Hotell Arendal

3 out of 5
Østre gate 2-4 Arendal Agder
Stay at this aparthotel in Arendal. Enjoy free Wi-Fi and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Glass Elevator to the Top of Fløyheia and Alti Arendal are located ...
7.6/10 Good! (450 reviews)
90 cm from bed to ceiling.
The photo on the ad on hotels.com does not represent the room. the photo was of a king size bed, but the actual room was a bunk-bed in a capsule. Needless to say i didnt read the ad well enough, but the misrepresenting photo made up for the confusion. Would not recommend to stay here in a ...

Reviewed on 16 Aug 2024

Hotell Arendal
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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